Customer Reviews

Dog Language

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Please place emphasis on the word "Encyclopaedia" as it appears in the title ...

Apart for the first 30 odd pages of introduction, where the author explains aggression & fear as perceived by dogs ... the rest of the book is arranged in alphabetical manner ...

The book covers a wide range of dog behaviours ranging from Abnormal Behaviour, Body Control, Classical Conditioning to Visual Communication and Xenophobia ... making the book a good reference source.

For example, under the title "Dominance & Submission" ... the author explains the role that dominance plays within a dog hierarchy, and how the "dominance - submission" relationship between dogs, is more of a learned behaviour based on experience, rather than just based on the physical appearance/size of the dogs.

The drawback with the format is that it makes for rather disjointed reading and is not quite a book to read from cover to cover ... and requires the reader to jump from topic to topic ...

Content-wise, the book provides reasonable information, very sufficient for the new or first time dog owner. The more experienced dog owner will probably want to look at books by Patricia McConnell, Clarence Pfaffenberger and/or Stanley Coren.

That said ... it remains a useful book to have in the library ...

4stars ...

This is an outstanding reference book for both pet owners and dog professionals. Behavior definitions are alphabetically arranged and cross referenced for easy use. It is intellegently written, concise, and easy to understand. There are many beautiful B&W illustrations throughout the book which further define behavior and body language. This book remains one of my personal favorites on basic behavior (my original copy is well used) and one I highly recommend. No good dog library is complete without it!

As a Pet Behavior consultant I suggest this book to everyone that comes to my office for help. It is well written and the pictures help owners understand what their dog is trying to say.

This book was recommended to me by my dog trainer. It was very helpful in explianing my dog's silent ( body) language. It is written in a nonscientific form and was easy to read and reference. I would suggest this book for anyone that has a dog or is going to get one.

This is a well written, interesting book. It is not a chapter-book, but a dictionary-like assembly of dog behaviour/postures/physiologic/biologic information. Good for understanding the workings of dogs based on wolves, not good for trying to get tips on how to housebreak your dog or teach him/her to sit and not chew up your things.

dictionary of dog language, that would be the perfect title for this book.

it lists a comprehensive array of 'dog language', ie facial expressions, signs and signals, behaviours etc. it also describes what each signal or expession means. however, it stops here, it doesnt tell you how to deal with it. an example is 'faeces eating', it tells you what it is, touches on why they do it but offers no solution. for a few items, it frustratingly neglects to tell the 'why' as well.

if you're looking for a book to tell you how to deal with our dear little friend who always growls at someone wearing pink, you won't find answers here. after reading though, you should know, if you observe carefully, if your dog is growling out of nervouness or anger or if it was a 'friendly growl' (haha)...

this is a good reference book if you're interested in knowing what certain signals mean, but it doesnt tell you how to solve any problems you have with dogs, nor to understand thoroughly how any problems develop. you'll learn to be able to tell if your dog is confident, happy, worried etc.

not a bad book to have for dog owners.

This is the best doggy dictionary on the market. If you really want to understand what your dog is trying to tell you, then this is the book to buy!

A welcome addition to over forty books in my canine reference library.I found "Dog Language" to be a handy reference in encyclopedic format listing terms and definitions used in the study of canine ethology. Especially useful is the list of canine behavior references located in the bibliography. The cross-reference line following each entry provides extra information. As a people trainer, I found it useful for defining the buzzwords of dogspeak needed to convey concepts to dog owners. Human to Canine communication is the key element to success in training. Dog Language helps to explain the messages the dog sends us. As an active trainer of working German Shepherd Dogs, I believe this book has enhanced my ability to "read" dogs.

I rate this book as an absolute "must have" for any person serious about understanding dog behaviour.

Excellent book for all two-leggeds. The format is encylopedic, but what seems intuitively to be a fault is really a plus. The book has become close to number one on my shelf of books directed at learning dog. Short of growing a tail, this book will yield rewards in enriched relationships with the four-leggeds.